chap10 Chapter 10 Recursion

chap10 2 Recursive Function recursive function The recursive function is a kind of function that calls itself, or a function that is part of a cycle in the sequence of function calls. An alternative to iteration (looping) A recursive solution is less efficient than an iterative solution in terms of computer time due to the overhead for the extra function calls. f1 f2fn …

chap10 3 Problems Suitable for Recursive Functions One or more simple cases of the problem have a straightforward solution. The other cases can be redefined in terms of problems that are closer to the simple cases. The problem can be reduced entirely to simple cases by calling the recursive function. If this is a simple case solve it else redefine the problem using recursion

chap10 4 Splitting a Problem into Smaller Problems Assume that the problem of size 1 can be solved easily (i.e., the simple case). We can recursively split the problem into a problem of size 1 and another problem of size n-1.

chap10 5 Example (Fig. 10.2) We can implement the multiplication by addition. The simple case is “m*1=m.” The recursive step uses the following equation: “m*n = m+m*(n-1).”

chap10 6 Tracing a Recursive Function The simple case. The recursive step.

chap10 7 Terminating Condition terminating conditions The recursive functions always contains one or more terminating conditions. A condition when a recursive function is processing a simple case instead of processing recursion. Without the terminating condition, the recursive function may run forever. e.g., in the previous multiply function, the if statement “ if (n == 1) … ” is the terminating condition.

chap10 8 Count a Character in a String (Fig.10.4) We can count the number of occurrences of a given character in a string. e.g., the number of ‘ s ’ in “ Mississippi ” is 4. The terminating condition.

chap10 9 The first scanned word is last printed. The scanned word will not be printed until the recursion finishes. Reverse Input Words (Fig. 10.6)

chap10 10 Trace of Reverse Input Words Sequence of Events

chap10 11 How C Maintains the Recursive Steps stack C keeps track of the values of variables by the stack data structure. Recall that stack is a data structure where the last item added is the first item processed. There are two operations (push and pop) associated with stack. abcabc bcbc dbcdbc poppush d

chap10 12 Each time a function is called, the execution state of the caller function (e.g., parameters, local variables, and memory address) are pushed onto the stack. When the execution of the called function is finished, the execution can be restored by popping up the execution state from the stack. This is sufficient to maintain the execution of the recursive function. The execution state of each recursive step are stored and kept in order in the stack. How C Maintains the Recursive Steps

chap10 13 How to Trace Recursive Functions (Fig. 10.9) The recursive function is not easy to trace and to debug. If there are hundreds of recursive steps, it is not useful to set the breaking point or to trace step-by-step. A na ï ve but useful approach is inserting printing statements and then watching the output to trace the recursive steps. Watch the input arguments passed into each recursive step.

chap10 14 Recursive Mathematical Functions Many mathematical functions can be defined and solved recursively (Fig ).

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chap10 16 Iterative Function factorial The previous function can also be implemented by a for loop (Fig ). The iterative implementation is usually more efficient.

chap10 17 Recursive Selection Sort (Fig ) 1. If n is 1 2. The array is sorted. else 3. Place the largest array value in last array element. 4. Sort the subarray which excludes the last array element (array[0],…,array[n-2])

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chap10 19 Towers of Hanoi The towers of Hanoi problem involves moving a number of disks (in different sizes) from one tower (or called “ peg ” ) to another. The constraint is that the larger disk can never be placed on top of a smaller disk. Only one disk can be moved at each time Assume there are three towers available.

chap10 20 Solved by recursion Animation if n is 1 then move disk 1 from the source tower to the destination tower else 1. move n-1 disks from the source tower to the temp tower. 2. move disk n from the source tower to the destination tower. 3. move n-1 disks from the temp tower to the source tower.

chap Move four disks from A to B. 2. Move disk 5 from A to C. 3. Move four disks from B to C. 3.1 move three disks from B to A. 3.2 Move disk 4 from B to C. 3.3 Move three disks from A to C. After Steps 1,2 After Steps 1,2, 3.1 and 3.2

chap10 22 The recursive step The simple case

chap10 23 Trace

chap10 24 Output Generated by tower ('A', 'C', 'B', 3);